Adjustable elastic resistance exercise device

ABSTRACT

A flexible band and/or chain is disclosed comprising a plurality of rings, links, or touri. In some embodiments, the links are interlocking In other embodiments, the links are affixed to one another in linear fashion. The links a gripable, and serve as handles for a user needing to target specific muscle groups for exercise by applying tensile force to the chain. The chain stretches. Some variations include detachable handles which can at attached at the ends of the chain or to links forming it.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to exercise equipment, and more particularly relates to an exercise apparatus for strengthening a user's arms and legs.

2. Description of the Related Art

Individuals in need of exercise often lack to the time to exercise at commercial gymnasiums and find it more convenient to exercise at home or while commuting. Standard exercise equipment is prohibitively large, expensive and cumbersome for home use. Many and varied types of compact exercise devices are available to help replace cumbersome gym equipment in home settings and assist individuals in their efforts to improve general strength, endurance and/or to mitigate specific health issues that need physical therapy.

The prior art includes complicated apparati comprising flexible rods, bungee cords, and inflatable or solid balls used for a large variety of conditioning activities including cardiovascular and spinal therapy, as well as increasing core strength, and strengthening in the upper and lower body muscles. Some exercise devices employ elastic resistance as a means of developing or measuring strength, but they are designed with a very limited exercises or muscle groups in mind, and are constrained by their own components and design to those limited areas. Certain muscles groups, such as the back and shoulder muscles, have very few simple portable devices designed for their exercise or strength measurement, due to the difficulties in designing a simple apparatus that can correctly resist the muscle motions leading to such development and measurement. Many patented portable devices that target difficult areas of the body to exercise such as these are complicated and difficult to find on the market.

There are no handheld devices in the art which target the muscles of a user's body and which can be rolled up and stowed in a space as compact as a drawer. Thus it would be highly beneficial to provide a simple, compact portable device that targets these muscles through a wide range of exercises, such as an adjustable elastic exercise chain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for an adjustable elastic resistance exercise device. Beneficially, such an exercise device would overcome many of the difficulties with prior art by providing a more functional apparatus to consumers.

The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparatii and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide an isotonic exercise device comprising: a segment comprising a plurality of elastomeric rings affixed to one another in line, the plurality of elastomeric rings; wherein a diameter of each ring is between 1 inch and 10 inches; wherein each of the plurality of elastomeric rings is gripable by a user applying tensile force to the gripped ring.

The plurality of elastomeric rings may be formed as single integrated piece. In other embodiments, the plurality of rings in the segment are links interconnected forming a chain.

In still further embodiments, the isotonic exercise device further comprises one or more secondary segments of elastomeric rings detachably affixed to the segment to increase an overall length of the isotonic device.

The segment may comprise a plurality of single elastic ring(s) detachably affixed to one another by means of connectors. The isotonic exercise device may further comprise one or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of elastomeric rings.

The handles may comprise elastic rings. The segment may be formed of a plurality of extruded elastomeric tubes helically wound around one another.

Each of the rings may be shaped as one of a torus, double torus, triple torus, toroidal polyhedron, dupin cyclide, and stretched donut-shape.

An isotonic exercise device is also disclosed comprising: a flexible elastomeric belt defining a plurality of apertures of between 1 inch and 10 inches in diameter; wherein the belt is graspable by a user through the apertures, the belt for applying tensile force to a user's hands.

In some embodiments, the isotonic exercise device may further comprise one or more handles detachably affixed to the belt, each of the one or more handles affixable to one of the apertures.

An isotonic exercise device is also disclosed comprising: a plurality of flexible elastomeric bands, each band comprising: a first connector affixed to a distal end of the band; and a second connector affixed to the proximal end of the band; wherein each band is detachably affixed to one or more bands from the plurality of elastomeric bands using one or more of the first connector and the second connector.

The isotonic exercise device may further comprise one or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of flexible bands.

The first connector may comprise one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip.

The second connector may comprise one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a second elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a detachable handle for an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device with a detached handle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device with detached handles in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 100 in accordance with the present invention. The device 100 comprises a series of rings 102 a-k.

The rings 102 a-k, in the shown embodiment, are connected side-by-side in linear fashion to form a band or chain 100. In the shown embodiments, the rings 102 a-k are formed from a flexible, stretchable elastomeric material as known to those of skill in the art. The rings 102 a-k in the shown embodiments are all of uniform thickness and diameter. In some embodiments, the rings 102 a-k may vary in thickness and diameter.

The rings 102 a-k in the shown embodiment are circular as viewed from a side perspective view. In other embodiments, the rings 102 a-k, from this perspective, may be oval, square, triangular, polynomial, torus, or another shape known to those of skill in the art.

The term “torus” as used in this application may apply to any looped shaped, including a ring, but also including stretched donut-shaped objects, including objects with corners, facets, angles and the like.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a second elastic resistance exercise device 200 in accordance with the present invention. The device 200 comprises a segment 100 a, a segment 100 b, and a link 202.

The segments 100 a-b are substantially described above in relation to FIG. 100.

The link 202 comprises a detachable fastener which is used to detachable connect two segments 100 to one another. The device 200 may comprise two or more segments 100. In the shown embodiment, the segments 100 are connected in linear fashion. In other embodiments, the segments 100 may be connected in irregular or non-linear fashion.

FIG. 3A is a side perspective view of a detachable handle 300 for an elastic resistance exercise device in accordance with the present invention. The handle 300 comprises a link 202, a sidebar 304, and a grip 306.

The link 202 is substantially described above.

The sidebar 304, in the shown embodiment, comprises an elastomeric or allow tube, bar, rod, or pipe. The sidebar 304 may be formed with the grip 306 as one integrated piece. The sidebar 304 may also comprise rope, chain, cable, nylon, band, and the like.

The grip 306, in the shown embodiment, comprises a cylindrical elastomeric component for gripping by a user which defines a hollow cylindrical passage for receiving a portion of the sidebar 304.

FIG. 3B is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 320 with a detached handle in accordance with the present invention. The device 320 comprises a handle 300 and a segment 100.

The handle 300 is detachably affixable to the segment 100 using the link 202.

In some embodiments, the link 202 may comprise a readable scale which shows the tensile pressure a user is exerting on the device 320.

FIG. 3C is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 340 in accordance with the present invention. The device 340 shows the device 320 in its attached configuration.

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 400 with detached handles in accordance with the present invention. The device 400 comprises a segment 100, a handle 300 a, and a handle 300 b.

In some embodiments, the device 400 comprises a plurality of handles 300 affixable to any of the rings 102 a-k in the segment 100.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 500 in accordance with the present invention. The device 500 comprises a band 502 which defines a plurality of apertures 504 a-c.

The band 502 comprises a flexible elastomeric band. In this embodiment, the apertures 504 a-c serve as handles through which a user grips the device 500 and applies tensile force. The apertures 504 a-c may be punched or stamped into the band 502, or may be formed during mold injection or fabrication. The apertures shown are circular, but may square, rectangular, ovoid, triangular or irregularly shaped in other embodiments. The apertures 504 a-c may vary in diameter one from another. In some embodiments, the annular ring circumscribing the apertures 504 a-c is overlaid or reinforced with another elastomeric, composite, or allow material.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an elastic resistance exercise device 600 in accordance with the present invention. The device 600 comprises a band 502 a, a band 502 b, a handle 602 a, a handle 602 b, a male engaging member 604, a female engaging member 606, and a handle 602 b.

The handles 602 a-b, in the shown embodiment, are similar to handles 300, but are affixed to the bands 502 a-b using means known to those of skill in the art. The handles 602 a-b may be detachable or permanently affixed. The handles 602 a-b, as shown, may comprise male 604 or female 606 engaging components for engaging a corresponding male 604 or female 606 engaging components.

The bands 502 a-b are permanently affixed to both a male engaging component 604 and a female engaging component 606. The engaging components 604, 606 may comprise buckles, clips, fasteners, links, claps, turnbuckles, or the like. The engaging components 604, 606 in the shown embodiment comprise side release buckles (where the male engaging component 604 is the hook end and the female engaging component 606 is the catch end).

A user may adjust the length of the device 600 by affixing multiple bands 502 together using the side release mechanisms, or via other fastening means.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a segment comprising a plurality of four or more symmetrical elastomeric rings affixed to one another in line; wherein an outside diameter of each ring is between 1 inch and 10 inches; wherein the isotonic device stretchable by a user applying tensile force to a ring with one of a hand and a detachable handle.
 2. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of elastomeric rings are formed as single integrated piece.
 3. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of rings in the segment are links interconnected forming a chain.
 4. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, further comprising one or more secondary segments of elastomeric rings detachably affixed to the segment to increase an overall length of the isotonic device.
 5. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the segment comprises a plurality of single elastic ring(s) detachably affixed to one another by means of connectors.
 6. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, further comprising one or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of elastomeric rings.
 7. The isotonic exercise device of claim 6, wherein the handles comprise elastic rings.
 8. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein the segment is formed of a plurality of extruded elastomeric tubes helically wound around one another.
 9. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the rings is shaped as one of a torus, double torus, triple torus, toroidal polyhedron, dupin cyclide, and stretched donut-shape.
 10. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein each of the rings is of uniform outside diameter.
 11. The isotonic exercise device of claim 1, wherein one or more of the elastomeric rings are fabricated by a mold or extrusion process.
 12. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a flexible elastomeric belt defining a plurality of apertures; wherein the belt is stretchable by a user applying tensile force to the belt through the apertures with one of a hand and a detachable handle; and wherein the device is fabricated by a mold or extrusion process.
 13. The isotonic exercise device of claim 12, further comprising one or more handles detachably affixed to the belt, each of the one or more handles affixable to one of the apertures.
 14. An isotonic exercise device comprising: a plurality of flexible elastomeric bands, each band comprising: a first connector affixed to a distal end of the band; and a second connector affixed to the proximal end of the band; wherein each band is detachably affixed to one or more bands from the plurality of elastomeric bands using one or more of the first connector and the second connector.
 15. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, further comprising one or more handles detachably affixed to one of the plurality of flexible bands.
 16. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, wherein the first connector comprises one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip.
 17. The isotonic exercise device of claim 14, wherein the second connector comprises one of a socket, loop, hook, prong, a receptacle for receiving a male connector, fastener, and clip. 